by Sandra Cox
“You tell me.” He bent his head and covered her full mouth with his. The gunfire faded in the distance.
Gabby stiffened.
“Don’t fight me, Gabriella,” he murmured against her lips.
“We’re not engaged,” she responded, her body softening and molding against him.
“We’re not?” The kiss deepened and all thoughts of conflict vanished.
They were out of view of their attackers, but in full view of John Paul and Billy.
John Paul stared slack-jawed with shock. “What the hell is he doing?”
“Seems pretty obvious to me,” Billy’s voice was dry. Billy fired a shot at random. “I’m not sure if it was that knock on the head he took a while back or Ms. Bell but he’s definitely losing his edge.” He fired another shot. There was a yelp from the bushes. “Do you know in some circles he is considered to be quick thinking, cool under fire and a dangerous man to mess with?”
“Well it’s pretty obvious what he’s thinking with right now.” Before Billy realized what he was about, John Paul lifted his rifle in Christopher’s direction and fired.
Christopher felt his hair part as a bullet whizzed by then heard John Paul roar, “Get the hell in here.”
Christopher’s head came up, his eyes wild. “He’s shooting at us.” His voice was high in disbelief. “Your boyfriend is shooting at us.”
“He’s not my boyfriend, you idiot.”
“Now that’s the Gabriella I know and love.” He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the house. “Keep your head down and zigzag.”
As they sprinted for the house, John Paul told Billy, “Cover them.” Billy fired rapidly. Moments later, John Paul was back with what looked like a sawn-off shotgun. He fired in the direction of the gunfire. The sound echoed through the room in a deafening roar.
“Damn,” Billy said in awe, as a sapling toppled and a man behind it flew in the air then as if in slow motion fell to the ground and lay still.
John Paul fired again. Three people made a break for the dirt road, one holding his arm, another dragging the man on the ground.
Christopher and Gabby burst through the door, panting.
John Paul was watching the fleeing figures, taking aim, then dropped his gun. “One of them is a woman.”
“Lai,” Christopher said grimly. “Billy give me your gun, I’m going after her.”
“Boss, I don’t think…”
Christopher grabbed his gun and ran out the door.
John Paul looked at Billy. “Cool under fire, huh?”
“I better go with him.”
John Paul reached down to his pant leg, where a handgun was strapped. “Here you better take this.”
Billy looked at him admiringly. “We are definitely going to have to swap stories sometime.” Billy opened the door.
“I’m going with you.” Gabriella took a step forward.
“No you are not. This is their fight,” John Paul said.
“Better stay put, Miss.” Billy slammed the door behind him.
Gabriella yanked it open and went after him.
“Damn it,” John Paul followed after Gabriella.
They ran after Christopher, who had cut through the tall pines surrounding the property. Pinecones crunched under their feet as they ran.
A motor started up. “They found my back road. The sons of bitches must be driving a Hummer. That road is almost impenetrable.”
They burst through the trees in time to hear the sharp report of exchanged gun fire. The Hummer careened crazily from side to side making a clean shot impossible as Christopher aimed for the tires.
Lai leaned out the window, gun in hand, placing a shot that sent dust spurting around Christopher’s feet.
The Hummer disappeared around a bend in the road.
“I can get my car,” John Paul said.
Christopher shook his head. “Listen.” In the quiet, the whirl of a helicopter could be heard overhead. “There must be an airstrip around here we didn’t know about.”
“Nope, but there’s a level clearing about four miles straight down. If we had a car here we’d stand a chance of catching them, but not if we have to go back to the cottage. Where’s your car?”
Christopher shook his head in disgust. “Too far for us to get to.”
It was obvious Christopher was still spoiling for a fight. He whirled on John Paul, “Perhaps you’d care to tell me why you parted my hair with a bullet a few minutes ago?”
Before John Paul could respond, Christopher wheeled and with a lightning jab, punched John Paul in the jaw.
John Paul went wheeling back, inadvertently squeezing the trigger of the sawed-off shotgun he still carried. The gun went off with a loud roar. A sapling several yards away went tumbling to the ground.
John Paul threw down the gun and charged Christopher like a bull, knocking him to the ground. They immediately began to pummel each other.
“Stop it,” Gabby screamed.
Billy just stood shaking his head. “Do you know before he met you, he was one of the coolest customers you’d want to meet?”
“Do something.”
His eyebrows elevated to his hairline and he shook his head. “My Momma didn’t raise no fool.”
Gabby threw him a disgusted look then began frantically looking around. She spied a fairly thick limb lying on the ground. Grabbing it up she began hitting at both men indiscriminately. Most of the hits fell on John Paul’s mammoth shoulders, but if he felt it he gave no notice.
Gabby had her stick in the air and was bringing it down, when Christopher flipped John Paul, her club coming down squarely on the side of Christopher’s face. “Oww!”
John Paul flipped him back. He stood up and pulled Christopher with him. “You deserve a sound thrashing, but I’ll let your fiancée administer it.” The ludicrousness of the situation got the better of him and he grinned.
Christopher did not grin back.
“Shall we start over? My name is John Paul Adams.” And he stuck out his hand.
Christopher’s hand stayed at his side. “If you touched her, old man…”
John Paul grabbed a fistful of Christopher’s shirt and hauled him toward him until their faces were only inches apart.
It was easy to read Christopher’s expression. He was stunned that a man John Paul’s age could move so quickly.
Billy shook his head and said to no one in particular, “The boss, always a lightning-fast learner, seems particularly slow today.”
John Paul spoke quietly. “Boy, I’ve just about had it with you. You mind your manners when you are speaking to your betters.” Slowly, John Paul released him.
Gabriella and Billy watched holding their respective breaths.
Christopher capitulated, though he still eyed John Paul suspiciously. “I appreciate your care of Gabriella, but it’s time she came back home with me.”
“And where might that be?” John Paul’s voice was even.
“New Orleans.”
“And what makes you think I’m going to turn her over to a hothead like you?”
Christopher gave a heartfelt sigh and said, “I can’t begin to tell you how much I hate bringing this into the conversation.” His lips tightened. “Or having to explain myself for that matter. But did I not hear her say she saw me in the globe? Think of it in terms of a passport ID.”
John Paul rolled his eyes. “And speaking of ID?”
Christopher pulled his wallet out of his back pocket and showed him his address.
John Paul looked at Billy.
“He’s who he says he is, mate.”
“IDs can be faked. I need more confirmation than this to hand her over to you.”
Gabriella straightened her spine and lifted her chin. “Whether I go or stay is up to me.”
Everyone ignored her.
Christopher sighed again, “Her father is Sergeant Bell of the Springfield, Illinois police.”
John Paul felt himself blanch.
Gabb
y shrugged and nodded.
A blue jay screamed overhead. She looked up. “I feel the same way,” she mumbled under her breath.
“All you’ve got to do is call the police department and they will verify everything I’ve said, except perhaps about the engagement,” he added hastily. “That may be a bit of a surprise.”
Gabby lifted her eyebrows, “Ya think?”
Billy wheeled abruptly. His shoulders shook and he made a noise perilously close to a snort. He turned back and said blandly, “Sorry something stuck in my throat.”
“Or you could call my Aunt Tamara,” Christopher said.
“Perhaps I’ll call both.”
“Give me your phone. If it’s traced it will come back to you and not me.”
Christopher looked at him with grudging respect and shrugged, handing it over. “Sergeant Bell thinks I’m a lunatic anyway.”
John Paul dialed information, listened then punched in the 217 area code and the number. “Do you have a Sergeant Bell that works there?”
The voice on the other end responded, “He isn’t here at the moment. May I take a message or would you care to speak to someone else?”
“Does he have a daughter?”
The voice on the other end sharpened the listener alert. “Who’s calling?”
“Is his daughter’s name Gabriella?”
“Just a minute I’m going to patch you through to him. Don’t hang up.”
“Who is this and what do you know about my daughter?” The voice was harsh with strain.
“Sir,” John Paul said, his voice gentle, “I may know where your daughter is. Can you describe her for me?”
“Tall, blonde and mouthy.”
John Paul grinned. “Sir, your daughter is safe.”
“Where is she? Can I speak with her, please?” he pleaded.
John held the phone toward Tamara-Gabriella and looked at her questioningly.
She shook her head and whispered, “I love my dad but I’m just not up to any explanations right now.”
“Sir, she isn’t available at the moment. Do you know anyone by the name of Tamara?”
“No,” Sergeant Bell started to say. “Wait, yes I know a Tamara James in New Orleans. Don’t try to tell me that sweet creature had anything to do with Gabriella’s disappearance. Though that snake of a nephew is another story,” he added darkly.
“Where is Gabriella? Where can I get her?”
“Here, I’ll let you talk to the snake,” and handed the phone to Christopher.
“Serve you right if I give him your address,” Christopher muttered, though had no intention of doing so having a healthy respect of distance from the law himself.
Christopher took the phone gingerly. “Sir…”
“You son of a bitch. I knew it. What have you done with my daughter? I’m going to tear you limb from limb then cut your heart out. And if there is anything left of you when I get through, I’m going to throw your sorry ass in jail.”
Christopher’s face remained stoic, though he could feel it turn an alarming shade of puce. He breathed heavily through his nose, while grinding his teeth.
“We will be in New Orleans tonight, sir, if you care to meet us there,” he said when he could finally get a word in edgewise.
Christopher watched Gabriella listen to the one-sided conversation. She moved to stand beside John Paul, then much to Christopher’s dismay, threw herself in John Paul’s arms. “Thank you for everything.”
“You don’t have to leave you know.”
Christopher watched in disgust. The man had arms like hambones.
She drew in a deep breath and let it out. “Yes I do, though I wouldn’t have minded staying on leave a bit longer.” And kissed him on the cheek.
“If you need me, just call and I will come. I love you like the daughter I never had, though with your taste in men it might be just as well I didn’t have any of my own.”
She looked Christopher up and down, raised her eyebrows and drawled, “I understand your concern.”
John Paul grinned and gave her a bear hug. “I expect to dance at your wedding.”
Before Gabby could reply Christopher interrupted sourly, “Are you planning on providing the beverages as well?”
“I just might, bucko. I just might.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The shiny silver plane climbed straight up into the sky. Night surrounded them. Gabby looked out the window. Gray clouds floated under the plane while stars winked overhead.
Christopher sat beside the pilot and Gabby sat behind him. The stillness in the cockpit was as thick as the clouds outside the plane, her self-appointed fiancé withdrawn.
What the hell was Casanova up to anyway? His was hardly the behavior of a loving fiancé, he was too, well, wary of her. Had this been an elaborate ruse to woo her away from John Paul? The idea that she could have the upper hand in the constant battle of wills waged between them appealed to her.
She leaned forward and crooned, “Lambkins.”
Christopher whipped around wide-eyed and the plane dipped as though the pilot had jerked.
Gabby looked at Billy. His shoulders were shaking. He was either laughing or crying she concluded.
“What did you call me that for?”
“What should I call you, lover?” She could tell by his wary expression that he could see the mischief lurking in her eyes.
“Probably pain in the ass,” Billy volunteered.
Christopher shot him a cold look, while Gabby giggled.
“Sorry, boss.”
“Is that what you called your protector back there?” Christopher’s face was grim and his jaw was clenched.
“No, I called him John Paul. Is that what you want me to call you?”
Billy began to cough.
“If you were a cat, you’d be hacking up fur balls,” Christopher told him sourly.
When the coughing subsided and his shoulders quit shaking, Billy tinkered with the lighted panel and then said, “No wonder the boss is so taken with you. You’re not only beautiful, but have a sense of humor as well.”
Gabby tilted her head toward Billy. “Have we met?”
“Honey, if we had you wouldn’t be engaged to the boss.”
“Billy.” Christopher said no more, but his voice held a warning.
“Sorry, boss, just a natural reaction to a beautiful woman. I’m sure Ms. Bell knows I’m harmless.”
“I’m beginning to wonder.” Christopher’s eyes slid over his pilot then shifted to the window.
Billy shook his head. “I may just be a good ole boy, but I’m nobody’s fool and that’s what I’d have to be to poach on your reservation.”
Christopher laughed reluctantly. “How many metaphors did you just mangle?”
“Excuse me. I’m not some piece of meat dangling in a butcher shop window and I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t talk as if I were.”
Her fiancé gave her a lazy look that made Gabby feel suddenly faint. She had to stop herself from fanning her face with her hand. “It would be very easy to respond with a trite cliché but in the interest of self-preservation I’ll respond instead to what I want you to call me. Christopher works very well. And in the interest of fair play I’ll call you,” his eyes darkened and his voice took on the rich timbre of malt whiskey, “the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.”
Their eyes held and locked in the dim light. For some reason, Gabby was having a bit of a problem catching her breath. “Probably the altitude,” she told herself as she sank deeper into his gaze.
“‘And I’ll call you the most breathtaking woman I’ve ever laid eyes on’, I’ve got to remember that,” Billy said stroking his chin.
Gabby and Christopher grinned at each other, the tension broken.
“So, lover, when exactly did we get engaged and more to the point why?”
“Karma,“ he said deadpan. “Having the crystal is just like an engagement ring in my family. “ He laughed as he watched he
r eyes narrow. “You are so easy to get a rise out of…lover.”
“You send off mixed signals,” she complained.
“And you think you don’t?” he shot back. He rubbed his thumb across his chin, making a light rasping sound. “No, I take that back, most of your signals are pretty straightforward and translate loosely into nailing my hide to the wall.” He grinned at her and she grinned back reluctantly.
He cleared his throat. “Do you believe in predestination?”
She blinked. “Are you trying to change the subject?”
“No, but maybe it would be better if I did so. What happened to you? How did you end up with that John Paul character?”
“He found me in a ravine.”
The change in Christopher frightened her. His eyes went flat and his features tightened all hard planes and angles, the face of the cold-eyed stranger in the globe.
“Lai has a lot to answer for.” The lack of expression in his voice further unnerved her.
Gabby couldn’t help it, she shivered.
He noticed. Christopher’s expression changed. His jaw muscles slackened and his eyes lightened. He reached over and grasped her hand, his warm and comforting. “You have nothing to be frightened of Gabriella.”
Stiffening her spine, Gabby stuck her chin in the air. “I’m not frightened.”
Christopher grinned and released her hand. “That’s what I love about you girl. You may be as obstinate and wrong-headed as a mule, but you’ve got grit.”
Gabby blinked and turned to stare out the window at the kaleidoscope of stars winking in the dark. It might not have been in the most complimentary context but Christopher Saint, her supposed fiancé had just used the L word.
* * * * *
It was nearing midnight when they arrived home. As they stepped out of the car, the muggy night air hit them like a blast from a furnace.
Christopher unlocked the door and opened it for her. She crossed the threshold. Her eyes widened and her mouth opened in a silent scream as a huge brown monster came barreling toward her and knocked her to the ground.
Gabby’s head hit the black and white marble floor. Stars whirred above her head and little birds chirped. The monster stood over her covering her face with ecstatic slobber. “Ned!”she screamed and threw her arms around him.
